Update 5:15 p.m.: Gov. Rick Perry arrived at the Travis County criminal justice center shortly after 5 p.m. to surrender to authorities and be fingerprinted and his mug shot taken.

Wearing a dark blue suit, white dress shirt and light blue tie, he confidently strode to a podium outside the courthouse to cheering supporters and proclaimed: “I’m here today because I believe in the rule of law. And I’m here today because I did the right thing. I’m going to enter the courthouse with my head held high knowing the actions I took were not only lawful and legal but right.”

“If I had to do so, I would veto funding for the Public Integrity Unit again,” he said.

“This issue is far bigger than me. It’s about the rule of law,” he said, interrupted by cheers. “This indictment is nothing short of an attack of the constitutional powers of the office of governor.”

“I will not allow this attack on our system of government to stand. I’m going to fight this injustice with every fiber of my being. And we will prevail.”

He then turned and walked into the courthouse in downtown Austin, trailed by television cameras and to chants of, “Perry, Perry!”

Perry supporters also are conducting a rally at 5 p.m. today outside the criminal justice center, according to a Facebook page.

Perry was indicted Friday on two felony charges — abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant — stemming from his efforts to force Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign following her drunken driving arrest.

The judge assigned to the case, Senior District Judge Bert Richardson of San Antonio, signed a personal recognizance bond for Perry, meaning that he will be released after paying a $20 administrative fee after surrendering.

Perry’s initial court date is scheduled for Friday, but Perry doesn’t have to be present. Perry, who is considering a second run for the White House, is scheduled on Friday to be in New Hampshire, the nation’s first primary.

Sign up for Newsletters

Want more news? Sign up for newsletters to get more of the Springfield News-Sun delivered to your inbox.